U.S. patent application number 10/135410 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for combination ice-maker and cooler.
Invention is credited to Brown, Jeffrey R., Harrison, Howard R..
Application Number | 20020121096 10/135410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27382989 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020121096 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harrison, Howard R. ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Combination ice-maker and cooler
Abstract
A compact cooler/ice maker is taught which is capable of
maintaining a uniform cooling or freezing temperature using a heat
conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and front,
rear and side linear walls. Also taught is a means to provide a
small forward voltage when the thermoelectric module is turned off,
to prevent back flow through the heat sink. Also taught is a cooler
with a beverage dispensing door located proximal to the bottom of
said front and with inside walls adapted to form a beverage
stack.
Inventors: |
Harrison, Howard R.;
(Mississauga, CA) ; Brown, Jeffrey R.; (Toronto,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RIDOUT & MAYBEE LLP
Suite 2400
One Queen Street East
Toronto
M5C 3B1
CA
|
Family ID: |
27382989 |
Appl. No.: |
10/135410 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10135410 |
May 1, 2002 |
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09522929 |
Mar 10, 2000 |
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6401461 |
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60123655 |
Mar 10, 1999 |
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60140438 |
Jun 23, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ; 62/3.63;
62/457.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 35/00 20130101;
F25B 2321/021 20130101; F25D 2700/12 20130101; F25D 11/006
20130101; F25D 21/14 20130101; F25D 25/00 20130101; F25B 21/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.6 ; 62/3.63;
62/457.9 |
International
Class: |
F25B 021/02; F17C
013/00; F25B 021/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A compact ice maker and cooler capable of maintaining a uniform
freezing or cooling temperature comprising: (a) box having an
insulated front compartment, an insulated front compartment lid and
a heat conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and
front, rear and side liner walls; (b) a thermoelectric module for
cooling the liner, the module being in thermal communication with
the liner and with a heat sink to dissipate heat from the liner,
the module and heat sink being located behind the rear liner wall,
the heat sink projecting into a compartment having air vents to the
exterior; (c) a thermal ballast in thermal communication with the
liner; and (d) a thermistor to monitor operation of the
thermoelectric module.
2. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a fan in the rear compartment to supplement dissipation
of said heat
3. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
thermoelectric module is spaced from the wall of the liner by a
spacer block, the spacer block and the module being imbedded in
insulation on the rear wall, and sealed to prevent the ingress of
condensation.
4. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
liner is formed of 1/4 inch aluminum plate or other thermally
conductive material of sufficient thermal specification.
5. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising insulation, and wherein the liner is located outside the
cooling chamber and inside the insulation.
6. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 5, wherein a
thermal ballast acts as an intermediate heat sink and is placed
outside the liner and inside the insulation.
7. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a means to maintain the fan running for a period after
the thermoelectric module is turned off to dissipate heat within
the heat sink to ambient.
8. A compact ice maker and cooler capable of maintaining a uniform
freezing or cooling temperature comprising: (a) a box having an
insulated front compartment, an insulated front compartment lid and
a heat conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and
front, rear and side liner walls; (b) a thermoelectric module for
cooling the liner, the module being in thermal communication with
the liner and with a heat sink to dissipate heat from the liner,
the module and heat sink being located behind the rear liner wall,
the heat sink projecting into a compartment having air vents to the
exterior; (c) a means to provide a small forward voltage after the
thermoelectric module is turned off, to prevent back flow of heat
from the heat sink to the cold liner, and, (d) a thermistor to
monitor operation of the thermoelectric module.
9. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a means to provide portable and persistent temporary
power once main power is removed, in order that the fan maybe left
running temporarily and that said small forward voltage across the
thermoelectric module may be applied temporarily when main power is
removed.
10. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising a beverage dispensing door located proximal to the
bottom of said front and wherein said liner walls are adapted to
form a beverage stack.
11. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
bottom liner wall is contoured to contact a greater surface area of
a bottommost beverage container.
12. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising an indicator means to alert a user when only one or two
beverage containers remain in the ice maker or cooler.
13. The ice maker or cooler as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising a can dispensing actuator located proximal to the bottom
liner wall and a control arm articulating between said door and
said actuator, whereby, upon opening said door, said control arm
initially allows for inspection of the bottom beverage container
and secondarily, if required, moves said actuator such that said
actuator ejects a said bottom beverage container and holds a second
bottom beverage container within said stack.
14. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising a spring fitted to said door for closing said door
promptly after release of said door.
15. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a condensate drain configured such that the condensate
may be evaporated from a sponge located at the heat sink.
16. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
ice maker and cooler may be placed within a large insulated
container.
17. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
dispersion plate may be placed between the spacer block and the
liner to accommodate the liners with lesser thermal
characteristics.
18. The ice maker and cooler as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising a means to provide portable and persistent temporary
power once main power is removed, in order that the fan may be left
running temporarily and that said small forward voltage across the
thermoelectric module may be applied temporarily.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 60/123,655, filed Mar. 10, 1999 and from U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 60/140,438, filed Jun. 23, 1999. This
application is divisional application of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/522,929, filed Mar. 10, 2000, which is pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a thermoelectric cooler for making
ice or frozen treats or for cooling a relatively small amount of
food or beverage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A thermoelectric ice maker for making molded ice blocks is
described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,810 issued May 13,
1986, to Fletcher and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,024 issued Dec. 11,
1984 to Fletcher et al. The ice maker described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,587,810 uses a shallow heat conductive tray, i.e., a metal tray,
to hold a flexible bag having individual compartments as mould
compartments for ice blocks. The shallow walls of the tray are
surrounded with insulation and the lid of the ice maker which
covers the tray immediately above the freezer bag is also
insulated. The bottom of the tray is cooled with a plurality of
thermoelectric elements.
[0004] Thermoelectric units have low cooling rates and are able to
maintain only a limited hot surface/cold surface temperature
differential. Condensation around thermocouples can be a problem.
Providing a cost effective unit of this type that provides
efficient freezing and cooling would be very desirable. Further, a
unit that is subject to minimum condensation and in which means are
provided to remove any condensation to a location where it will not
cause later problems such as deterioration of the semiconductor
materials or short circuiting of electric circuits would be very
desirable from a long term standpoint.
[0005] It is believed that an attempt has been made in the ice
maker of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,578,810 and 4,487,024 to overcome these
problems but it is believed that, because the thermoelectric
elements are placed under the cooling tray, natural convection will
not enhance the action of fans dissipating heat withdrawn from the
tray. This fact appears to have been recognized by the inventor
since he tilts his tray at an angle to the horizontal for various
stated reasons. No particular measures appear to have been taken to
reduce condensation.
[0006] It would also be very desirable that a small scale and cost
effective freezer for use, for example, in individual rooms in
offices, hotels, cars, etc., might also be capable of providing ice
blocks of various sizes in bags or other forms, frozen treats, or a
small number of individual cooled beverages. The inventor of U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,587,810 and 4,487,024 has not attempted to provide any
cooling compartment sufficiently deep and spacious that freezing of
various shapes and formats of ice blocks or frozen treats and
cooling of beverages or small amounts of other food substances may
be contemplated. Nor have they attempted to provide a dual purpose
device which is capable of uniformly freezing a plurality of ice
blocks or uniformly cooling one or more single serving beverages
while providing a means to prevent the latter from freezing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present inventors have attempted to devise a compact,
multipurpose ice maker/cooler of small size suitable for use by
individuals at convenience locations. Moreover the present
inventors have attempted to provide such a cooler utilizing a
minimum number of thermoelectric elements to minimize initial cost
of the device and to minimize running expenses. The present
inventors have recognized the desirability of maintaining a uniform
cooling temperature within the ice maker/cooler. It has not
previously been thought possible to provide uniform temperature
within a thermoelectric cooler when utilizing only one
thermoelectric element. Moreover, in coolers of small size problems
of uniform temperature and rapid cooling of freshly inserted
contents are greater than in larger coolers.
[0008] In addition, the present inventors have recognized the
desirability of keeping the hot side (or heat sink) of the
thermoelectric module at or very close to ambient in order to take
full advantage of the limited temperature differential available
from the thermoelectric module.
[0009] A further problem exists concerning the heat sink. When the
cooler is turned off there is a tendency for heat to flow back into
the cooler. The present inventors have also addressed this
problem.
[0010] Accordingly the present invention provides a compact
multipurpose ice making cooler comprising a box having an insulated
front compartment having an insulated compartment lid and a heat
conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and front,
rear and side liner walls, the liner defining a cold chamber having
a height greater than the distance between the front and rear liner
walls; a thermoelectric module for cooling the liner, the module
being in thermal communication, on the one hand, with the liner
and, on the other hand, with a heat sink to dissipate heat from the
liner, the module and heat sink being located behind the rear liner
wall such that natural convection tends to dissipate said heat, the
heat sink projecting into a rear compartment having air vents to
the exterior; a fan in the rear compartment to supplement
dissipation of said heat; a thermistor to continuously monitor
operation of the thermoelectric module; and a dual set point
controller with built-in hysteresis to control the temperature
within the cooler in dependence on one of two preset desired
temperatures depending on the position of a user activated slide
switch.
[0011] The thermoelectric module may be spaced from the rear wall
of the liner by a spacer block, the spacer block and the module
being imbedded in insulation on the rear wall, and sealed to
prevent the ingress of condensation.
[0012] The heat sink advantageously comprises a vertical bank of
horizontal fins projecting rearwardly into the rear compartment. A
front face of the bank of fins may lie flush with the insulation on
the rear wall of the front compartment and in thermal contact with
the thermoelectric module.
[0013] The liner may advantageously be formed of 1/4 inch aluminum
plate or other material suitable for good thermal conductivity and
the thermistor is advantageously located on one of the side walls
or the front wall so that it controls the temperature at a distance
from the thermoelectric module.
[0014] In order to minimize sudden rise in temperature within the
cooler when fresh, unfrozen, contents are inserted, a thermal
ballast may be used. The thermal ballast may be located outside the
cooling chamber and inside the insulation. It may be any high
specific heat material e.g. a thermal gel confined around the
cooling chamber or maybe a block, or blocks, of thermal gel
material contacting the outer surface of the cooling container
within the insulation. Other materials such as blocks of aluminum
(possibly embodied as a thickened cold chamber wall over all or
part of its surface), other metals, other liquids e.g. water or
alcohol solutions may also be used. However practical
considerations such as ease of achieving good thermal transfer with
the cold chamber, ability to easily adapt to the shape of any
cavity between the cold chamber and the insulation, cost, weight,
and leakage and environmental considerations must be taken into
account. While the thermal ballast is described herein as it
relates to the present ice maker/cooler, one skilled in the art
will appreciate that the thermal ballast can be advantageously
applied to many similar apparatus such as any thermoelectric or
traditionally chilled freezer or cooler to improve its thermal
stability.
[0015] Means may be provided to maintain the fan running for a
period after the thermoelectric module is turned off to dissipate
heat within the heat sink into the ambient air, thereby reducing
the temperature of the heat sink and the temperature differential
between the heat sink and the cold chamber. This will reduce the
natural flow of heat back into the cold chamber.
[0016] Moreover, even when the thermoelectric module is "off", a
small forward voltage may help to prevent the back flow of heat
from the heat sink to the cold chamber. While this means of
blocking heat flow back through the thermoelectric module while it
is turned off and dissipating it into the ambient air is described
herein as relating to the present ice maker/cooler, one skilled in
the art will appreciate that this technique can be advantageously
applied to any thermoelectric freezer or cooler to substantially
improve overall efficiency.
[0017] Also taught is a cooler further having a beverage dispensing
door located proximal to the bottom of the front and wherein the
liner walls are adapted to form a beverage stack. Preferably, the
bottom liner wall is contoured to contact a greater surface area of
a bottommost beverage container. In another preferred embodiment,
the cooler has an indicator means to alert a user when only one or
two beverage containers remain in the cooler. Preferable, the
invention provides a can dispensing actuator located proximal to
the bottom liner wall and a control arm articulating between the
door and the actuator, whereby, upon opening the door, the control
arm moves the actuator such that the actuator ejects a bottom
beverage container and holds a second bottom beverage container
within the stack. The actuator may move around a pivot point. A
spring can be fitted to the door for closing the door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example
with reference to the drawings in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an ice maker/cooler according
to the invention with the lid closed;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a horizontal section through the ice maker/cooler
of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the ice maker/cooler of
FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a horizontal section through another ice
maker/cooler of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a horizontal section through yet another ice
maker/cooler of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the ice maker/cooler of
FIG. 5; and
[0025] FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram showing a method for allowing the
fan to run after switching off the thermoelectric element, during
normal operation, and for allowing the fan and thermoelectric
module operations to persist when main power is removed.
[0026] FIG. 8 is perspective view of preferred embodiment of the
invention; a beverage cooler/dispenser.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of the front bottom portion
of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 8.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a detailed cross-section view of a single can
dispensing mechanism of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] An ice maker/cooler 10 has a hinged lid 12, side walls 14, a
front wall 16, a rear wall 18 and a bottom 20. The ice maker/cooler
10 may be divided into two compartments 22, 24. The front 22 being
insulated on its walls and bottom. Hinged lid 12 covers compartment
22 and is, itself, insulated.
[0030] The dimensions of the ice maker/cooler 10 may be small to
contain a supply of ice for one or two individuals or two or three
beverage cans. For example, the height of the cooler may be in the
region of 8 inches and the depth from front to back may be in the
region of 10 inches. Such a small size cooler may be provided with
a wall mount bracket 19 for mounting on a wall surface or it may
stand on a counter top or table. Such a small size cooler also
allows the possibility of mounting it within a conventional
thermoelectric cooler (such as a standard sized cooler e.g. as
provided by Coleman.TM., Igloo.TM. or Koolatron.TM.) to provide a
freezer compartment. Two independent thermoelectric systems may be
provided or a combined thermoelectric system may be used. When a
combined system is used, the cold chamber of the small freezer may
be free of insulation and exposed to the interior of the insulated
cooler compartment of the larger cooler. Forced or natural
convection may be used to accomplish the necessary heat
transfer.
[0031] The insulated, front compartment 22 may be lined with a
thermally conductive liner 23 continuous over the inner wall
surfaces of the insulation 26, i.e. lining the inside of the
compartment over its bottom and walls. In one embodiment, the
thermally conductive liner is a metal liner, and in a preferred
embodiment, the metal is aluminum which should be thick enough to
distribute heat (or cold) apply at any point efficiently over its
whole body. The liner may be welded aluminum plates possibly 1/4
inch thick to facilitate uniform heat extraction over the entire
surface and maintain a relatively constant temperature throughout
the front compartment 22. Other materials and thicknesses of
materials may be used providing that these thermal conditions are
met.
[0032] Insulation 26 may be of the rigid foam type of insulation so
that it is convenient to make the partition wall 28 between front
compartment 22 and rear compartment 24 only of insulation 26.
[0033] The thermoelectric module 30 may be imbedded in partition
wall 28 with its heat sink face 32 directed away from compartment
22 and lying flush with the surface of partition wall 28. The load
face 34 of thermoelectric module 30 may be spaced from liner 23 by
a spacer block 36. The spacer block 36 is made of heat conductive
material, for example aluminum and may be of a size and shape to
enhance cold distribution over the whole body of the liner 23 and
to allow for an acceptable level of insulation between liner 23 and
the heat sink 42. Where certain materials, such as a thermoplastic,
are used for cold liner 23, the area of the cold surface of the
spacer block 36 may need to be increased to facilitate the same
level of heat transfer. This may be accomplished by placing a
larger dispersion plate between the spacer block and the cold liner
23.
[0034] The difference in surface area of the two sides of the
spacer block may be accomplished by placing the dispersion plate,
preferably made of the same material as the spacer block, between
the spacer block and the less thermally conductive cold chamber.
While this spacer block modification is described herein as it
relates to the present ice maker/cooler, one skilled in the art
will appreciate that such a spacer block can be applied to any
other suitable thermoelectric or heat transfer apparatus known in
the art, and may be particularly useful where a combination
aluminum and thermal plastic apparatus is used.
[0035] A thermistor 40 is located on a wall of the liner some
distance from its contact with spacer block 36, i.e. some distance
from the point at which cold is actually applied to the liner 23.
The distancing of thermistor 40 from spacer block 36 allows the
thermistor to control the operation of thermoelectric module 30 in
response to the temperature of the liner 23 at a point where the
cold conduction has had an opportunity to diffuse.
[0036] A drain 37 may be provided near the base of the liner 23.
The drain 37 extends from the interior of liner 23 through
insulation 26 into rear compartment 24 opening, for example,
between fins 42. A sponge 39 may be lodged between fins 42 to
absorb condensation from drain 37. Forced convection causes
evaporation of the condensate, further contributing to cooling of
the heat sink.
[0037] Behind partition wall 28 formed of insulation 26 a bank of
heat (or cold) conductive fins 42 is arranged projecting into rear
compartment 24. The fins 42 are arranged horizontally. A surface 44
of the bank of fins 42 lies flush against the partition wall 28 in
contact with the heat sink face of thermoelectric module 30. A fan
46 is located adjacent fins 42 to direct heated air from the heat
sink out of compartment 24 through air flow vents 48 vertically
arranged from top to bottom in the side walls of compartment 24.
Baffling adjacent to fins 42 ensures heated air exits rather than
remaining in compartment 24. Natural convection currents will cause
some tendency of warm air between heat sink fins 42 to try to rise
but such rising of warm air will not have any tendency to heat the
cold chamber inside liner 23 since the fan 46 may run continuously
to provide forced convection. The warm air is dissipated sideways
under the influence of fan 46 to be removed from compartment 24.
Cooler ambient air is drawn into compartment 24 by fan 46 through
additional air vents 49 so that an efficient air circulation flow
is set up.
[0038] A switch 50 is provided on the front of ice maker/cooler 10
to switch the ice maker from ice making operation to beverage
cooling operation. The two operations are identical with respect to
cooling rates but offer two different set points, one designed to
completely freeze the contents of the freezer/cooler and the other
to stop short of freezing the contents of the freezer/cooler. The
switch 50 is therefore connected to controller 51 which contains
the switch selectable dual offset control logic, allowing the full
dual mode operation using only one thermistor. The switch 50
activates the circuit shown in FIG. 7 to turn on the thermoelectric
element and fan together to initiate the cooling cycle and to turn
off the thermoelectric module once a set temperature has been
reached.
[0039] The fan may be left on continuously to remove heat when the
thermoelectric module is operating, and to further remove heat
after the thermoelectric module has been turned off, thereby
minimising any tendency of heat to travel back into the cold
chamber. Thus the heat sink temperature is returned to ambient
temperature or very close to it before the next cooling cycle
begins. In certain applications it may be desirable to use a timer
and/or a sensor to turn off the fan once the heat sink has fully
returned to ambient temperature.
[0040] It is noted that when the thermoelectric module is switched
"off", a very small voltage may be applied to the thermoelectric
module as a thermal block. The application of such a small voltage
may help prevent heat back tracking through the fabric of the heat
sink itself. A means to provide portable and persistent temporary
power once main power is removed (for example, an internal
rechargeable battery) is provided. In another improvement, the same
power source may be used to continue fan operation subsequent to
the main power supply being cut.
[0041] The controller 51 also introduces some hysteresis, allowing
the container 23 to actually rise above the desired set point on a
regular and controlled basis. This will allow for some melting of
any frozen condensate which may form on the inside of container 23.
The run-off will flow through drain hole 37 to condensate sponge
39, where it will evaporate due to air flow from fan 46. The
evaporation process will further cool heat sink 42, contributing to
the overall efficiency of the unit. Should the amount of frost
build-up exceed the melting (or defrost) capability as described
herein, then the controller can be enhanced to provide a greater
amount of hysteresis and/or the controller can be enhanced to
provide a defrost cycle which can be either manually or
automatically initiated.
[0042] The entire unit is internally powered by 12 volt DC, meaning
that it may be configured in several different modes, including but
not limited to 12 volt DC supply such as in a car, truck, RV, or
boat 12 volt DC supply with an external 110 volt AC to 12 volt DC
converter for home or commercial use or 110 volt AC supply with an
internal 110 volt AC to 12 volt DC converter for home or commercial
use.
[0043] During normal operation, the 12 volt dc supply may also be
used to charge an internal battery or set of batteries to prepare
them for use once normal operation ceases; for example by
unplugging the unit from a cigarette lighter socket in a car or
boat. The charged batteries will allow the fan and thermoelectric
module operations to persist in a backup mode to minimise back flow
of heat and thereby maintain the contents of the cold chamber
cooler over a longer period than would be otherwise possible. The
running of the fan after normal operation will serve to remove heat
from the heat sink through forced convection and return the heat
sink temperature to or at least towards ambient temperature. A
small forward voltage simultaneously applied across the
thermoelectric module will aid the process of thermal persist by
also inhibiting flowback of heat into the cold chamber. While this
is a temporary solution in the sense that the battery power can
only last a limited time, the impact on freezing temperature
endurance within the chamber may be dramatic. In certain
applications it may be necessary to control the rate and extent of
battery drain to address both these and other like
considerations.
[0044] While thermal persist is described herein as it relates to
the present ice maker/cooler, one skilled in the art will
appreciate that it may be applied to many other thermoelectric
applications to counter the natural tendency for heat to flow back
through a thermoelectric module once power is removed from the
device. The principle of thermal persist described herein results
in controlling the flow and direction of flow in a proactive
manner.
[0045] In addition, means may be provided to maintain the fan
running and to apply a forward voltage across the thermoelectric
module for only a set period of time after the primary power has
been removed from the cooler to inhibit heat flowback.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows a modification of the ice maker/cooler of FIGS.
1-3 having as thermal ballast a block 58 of thermal gel contacting
with one surface 60 over the lower surface of the of the front
compartment 22. The block 58 is surrounded by insulator 26 on its
other surfaces and may conveniently have dimensions of about
3".times.3".times.1/2.
[0047] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the case where the thermal ballast is a
layer 62 of thermal gel covering the walls of front compartment 22
within the insulator 26. This configuration for the thermal ballast
may also improve the flow of heat around and out of the cold
chamber, thereby improving efficiency as well as providing thermal
ballast.
[0048] Beverage Cooler/Dispenser
[0049] The fundamental concepts behind the Combination Ice-Maker
and Cooler can be successfully applied to several related products.
FIG. 8 shows one example--a Beverage Cooler/Dispenser.
[0050] As best seen in FIG. 9, in this example, beverage cans 65
may be placed in the Beverage Cooler/Dispenser through lid 66. Up
to six cans may be placed in this version of the Beverage
Cooler/Dispenser, and they are retained in place until one or more
cans 65 are removed through dispensing door 67. In other
embodiments, the invention may allow more or less than six cans to
be held in the stack, and may also allow multiple stacks of cans to
facilitate different types of beverages within the same cooler.
[0051] The lower cans in the stack are held in intimate contact
with thermally conductive liner 23. The liner 23 has been modified
slightly by extending the bottom downward and leaving a front
opening sufficiently large to allow the bottommost can to roll out
freely. The back and sides of liner 23 may be extended upwards to
thermally connect with a greater number of the cans to improve
thermal performance, the trade-off being an increase in material
cost. The modified bottom and all sides (including front and back)
of liner 23 are thermally connected, and heat is removed from the
liner 23 and dissipated into the ambient air through heat sink 42
with fan 46 as previously described. The bottom of liner 23 is
contoured to contact a greater percentage of the bottommost can,
allowing for greater efficiency of heat removal from this can. The
product is designed to keep the bottommost can, i.e. the first one
to be removed by the user, as the coldest can.
[0052] A layer of thermal gel 62 surrounds the liner 23 and acts as
a thermal ballast. This will keep the temperature of cold
compartment 22 as low as possible when new and potentially warmer
cans are introduced through top lid 66. Also, the layer of
insulation 26 is extended upwards to mate with lid 66, which may
also be insulated, to reduce the amount of passive heat that is
introduced into compartment 26 from the surrounding environment. In
particular, the layer of insulation 26 that forms the bottom of
cold compartment 22 in the area above the thermally conductive
liner 23 serves to isolate cold compartment 22 from the much warmer
rear compartment 24.
[0053] As in other embodiments of the invention, the beverage
cooler/dispenser may be configured to be powered by 12V DC and/or
110V AC making it very applicable for home, office or mobile use.
The unit may be placed on any flat surface, for example a counter
top, table, desk or filing cabinet, or wall mounted using bracket
19.
[0054] The unit is thermostatically controlled to keep the
beverages cold but above freezing. This allows the full cooling
power of the unit to be applied to new and potentially warmer cans,
chilling them as quickly as possible. The user adjustable
thermostatic control is designed to stop the cooling action before
the beverages freeze, and is further designed to set the beverage
temperature according to individual taste.
[0055] Thermal persist may be implemented to keep the beverages as
cool for as long as possible once power is removed from the unit.
This will be particularly important for portable versions of the
product.
[0056] The beverage cooler/dispenser maybe further fitted with an
indicator light to alert the user when only one or two cans remain
inside the cooler, i.e. when it is time to add more cans. This
indicator light may be connected to a sensor using available
technologies, e.g. a light beam that is generally interrupted when
sufficient cans are in the cooler.
[0057] It is not anticipated that the Beverage Cooler/Dispenser
will exhibit a condensate problem since the condensate will simply
roll out with the cans. This will actually add to consumer appeal
since condensate on the cans is generally associated with a "cold
and refreshing beverage". However the unit could be fitted with a
condensate drain/wicking mechanism if necessary or desirable. This
would require that the heat sink 42 be mounted lower and/or
extended lower such that the condensate would drain into the lowest
air channel, facilitating the evaporation of the condensate into
the ambient air.
[0058] FIG. 10 provides further detail regarding a potential can
dispensing mechanism designed to allow a visual inspection of the
can before dispensing, and then to dispense one can at a tine. The
cold chamber 23 and insulation 26 remain the same as in previous
figures except that the bottom of cold chamber has been extended
further around the bottom of can 70. This serves to hold bottom can
70 in place until it is dispensed. It also serves to provide a
pivot point for can dispensing actuator 69, and to increase the
thermal contact with bottom can 70.
[0059] The user will partially open front access door 67 from
position 1 to 1a in order to view the next can to be dispensed. The
bottom can 70 remains in place during this process. In a wider,
multi-stack beverage cooler, side-by-side access doors 67 will
allow the user to preview multiple bottom cans 70 before making a
selection. Note that moving front access door from position 1 to 1a
will move control arm 68 from one end of control slot 72 to the
other end of control slot 72, but that this will not cause any
movement in can dispensing actuator 69.
[0060] Upon making a selection, the user will use slightly more
effort to further open front access door 67 from position 1a to 2.
This causes control arm 68 to engage with and rotate can dispensing
actuator 69 from position 1 through to position 2. This action
lifts bottom can 70 up and over the "hump" created by the edge of
cold chamber 23, and allows it to be dispensed by rolling out over
the top or inside surface of front access door 67.
[0061] The can dispensing actuator 69 is shaped to simultaneously
lift can 71 (and cans that may be on top of can 71) as it dispenses
bottom can 70. The can dispensing actuator is designed to hold can
71 in place while bottom can 70 is being dispensed, thus allowing
only one can to be dispensed at a time.
[0062] The slight lifting of can 71 (and all cans on top of can 71)
provides sufficient potential energy to ensure that can dispensing
actuator 69 is automatically pushed back to position 1 once the
user lets go of front access door 67. The momentum created, plus
the geometry of front access door 67, will ensure that it follows
through to a filly close position. If necessary, a spring may be
fitted to front access door 67 to ensure that it is firmly closed
and does not allow any leakage of cold air from within the cold
chamber 23.
[0063] Note that after dispensing bottom can 70, can 71 will index
down to become the new bottom can 70. It will be held in place by
the geometry of the bottom of cold chamber 23 as well as be in
increased thermal contact with cold chamber 23, ensuring that it
becomes as cold as possible before being dispensed. The top portion
of cold chamber 23 may be notched, grooved, or otherwise modified
to control the speed of the indexing process and prevent can 71
from "bouncing" as it reaches the bottom of cold chamber 23. It is
likely that this modification of the top portion of cold chamber 23
may also contribute to increased thermal efficiency for the upper
cans, for example by having the cans roll through a vertical "w" or
a series of offset protrusions which would increase the area of
contact between the cans and the cold chamber 23 as they index
through each possible position on the way to the becoming bottom
can 70.
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